Outside time

[River campbell]

also cute little polaris is getting her tail feathers and wing feathers

 

[3KillerBs]

I was brooding chicks in the heat last May.

I made sure that they had shade, LOTS of ventilation -- ~ 26 square feet (2.4 square meters) of ventilation in a 4'x8' brooder (1.2 x 2.5 meters).

I made sure that they had plenty of fresh water and a separate waterer with electrolytes.

Once the chicks were old enough to be physically strong enough, they could dig through the bedding to access the ground and have a cool layer of dirt to sit on.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I mean entire poops go missing

They may peck at the poop to find undigested bits but they should not be eating the entire poop. If it is the chicks, they are probably scratching it and scattering it so you can't see it. They will eat bits after scratching and scattering it. That's how they share probiotics and develop some flock immunities.

Some other critters, dogs for example, might eat the poop. Do other critters have access?